Ben Amera Day Seven

Mauritania

Go back to Mauritania.
Go back to Ben Amera Day Six.

Schouff la Fissure
Schouff la Fissure.

Back to Ben Aicha for a route called Schouff la Fissure (7 pitch, 6a). The line follows an obvious crack system to the left of Meme les Chameaux Meurent de Soif. The first pitch is a 6a slab with some (optional?) chimney moves thrown in. We did not like the look of the bolting on pitch 2: the height and position of the second bolt offers you a good chance to slam into your belayer and the terrain did not look easier than pitch one despite its rating (bolting on the first pitch is generous). And so we bailed.

We then spent a bit of time hiking around the base of Ben Amera. Here you can see a small collection of sculptures carved into the boulders by a mixed team of artists done to celebrate the new millennium. There are also some slightly older cave paintings dating back to 5K-6K years ago.

Photos

Schouff la Fissure
Racking up for Schouff la Fissure. Photo by Dah (Nov. 2024).
Schouff la Fissure
Starting up Schouff la Fissure. Photo by Dah (Nov. 2024).
Schouff la Fissure
Shirley belaying me on Schouff la Fissure (Nov. 2024).
Schouff la Fissure
Nearing the first belay (Nov. 2024).
Schouff la Fissure
Shirley starting up. Another photo by Dah (Nov. 2024).
Schouff la Fissure
Shirley starting up pitch 1 (Nov. 2024).
Schouff la Fissure
Schouff la Fissure (Nov. 2024).
Schouff la Fissure
Shirley on Schouff la Fissure (Nov. 2024).
Schouff la Fissure
Views from pitch 1 belay (Nov. 2024).
Schouff la Fissure
Shirley & I on pitch 1.  Photo by Dah (Nov. 2024).
Schouff la Fissure
Wider angle view courtesy of Dah (Nov. 2024).
Schouff la Fissure
Schouff la Fissure (Nov. 2024).
Schouff la Fissure
Bailing (Nov. 2024).
Ben Aicha
Posing with Sid Ahmed’s Range Rover dating back to 1960 something. And there’s the climb we just failed on right behind us (Nov. 2024).
Ben Aicha
Checking out the small collection of sculptures at the base of Ben Aicha. These were carved by small group of international sculptors, including Mauritanian, over the course of a few weeks in time to welcome the new millennium (Nov. 2024).
Ben Aicha
Ben Aicha base art (Nov. 2024).
Ben Aicha
Ben Aicha sculptures (Nov. 2024).
Ben Aicha
A ram (Nov. 2024)?
Ben Aicha
Exploring the outdoor art gallery (Nov. 2024).
Ben Aicha
Ben Aicha (Nov. 2024).
Ben Aicha
A pair of eyes (Nov. 2024).
Ben Aicha
A fish (Nov. 2024)?
Ben Aicha
The steep side of Ben Aicha (Nov. 2024).
Ben Aicha
Doing the walking tour or circumnavigation of Ben Aicha (Nov. 2024).
Ben Aicha
A relatively fresh camel carcass (Nov. 2024).
Ben Aicha
Some prehistoric cave paintings at the base of Ben Aicha (Nov. 2024).
Ben Aicha
Photo by Dah (Nov. 2024).
Ben Aicha
Dah bouldering (Nov. 2024).
Ben Aicha
Shirley admiring the best side of Ben Aicha. The descent route follows the slabs on the left. To the right of the spot is a 300 meter long route with the appropriately poetic name of L’Origine du Monde (Nov. 2024).
Ben Aicha
Lunch in a cave. Sid Ahmed is making tea of course (Nov. 2024).
Ben Aicha
Sid Ahmed – our camp host (Nov. 2024).
Ben Aicha
Looking back at Ben Aicha as we drive back to camp (Nov. 2024).

Go to Ben Amera Day Eight.
Go back to Mauritania.